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Philippines ex-mayor Alice Guo sentenced to life for human trafficking in scam hub case
A Philippine court on Thursday convicted former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo and three accomplices of human trafficking for operating one of the country's largest scam centers, sentencing them to life imprisonment and a 2 million peso ($33,832; £25,942) fine each.
Background: From local leader to fugitive
Guo, 35, was elected mayor of Bamban-a town north of Manila-in 2022 and initially seen by residents as a compassionate leader. But her political career unraveled in 2024 when authorities raided an 8-hectare compound near her office, uncovering a sprawling scam hub disguised as a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO). Over 800 Filipinos and foreigners were rescued, many alleging they were coerced into running "pig butchering" fraud schemes targeting overseas victims.
POGOs, which cater to Chinese clients where gambling is banned, have faced scrutiny in the Philippines for links to criminal syndicates. Investigators later revealed the scam center sat on land Guo previously owned, raising questions about her claims of ignorance. A Senate probe exposed inconsistencies in her biography, including evidence she migrated from China as a teenager under the name Guo Hua Ping-contradicting her assertion of being Philippine-born.
The arrest and extradition
Guo vanished in July 2024 after her removal from office, triggering a four-country manhunt. She was apprehended in Indonesia that September and extradited to the Philippines, where her passport was revoked. Throughout the ordeal, she denied all charges, including allegations of spying for China-a claim Beijing has never publicly addressed.
Ongoing legal battles
Thursday's conviction stems from human trafficking charges, but Guo still faces five other cases, including money laundering. It remains unclear whether she will appeal the ruling. The verdict arrives amid escalating tensions between Manila and Beijing over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, though Chinese officials have remained silent on Guo's case.
"She was seen as someone who cared, but the truth was far darker."
Bamban resident, speaking to the BBC in 2024
Key figures in the case
- 800+ victims rescued from the Bamban scam hub in 2024.
- 36 buildings operated within the 8-hectare compound.
- Four defendants convicted alongside Guo, all receiving life sentences.
